Second suspect pleads guilty in February attack

The second of three men who reportedly assaulted a group of teens on Feb. 20 in Austin changed his plea to guilty Thursday in Mower County Court.

Roberto Rocha, 23, of Austin, pleaded guilty to second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon and second-degree riot with a weapon, both felonies.

Jose Moyeda, 19, of Austin, pleaded guilty to those same charges last Thursday.

Luis Rodriguez, 26, previously pleaded not guilty in the same case for felony charges of first-degree assault with great bodily harm, four counts of second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon, one count of second-degree assault with great bodily harm and second-degree riot with a dangerous weapon.

Four victims said the three men attacked them, one of whom repeatedly hit a 17-year-old with an aluminum baseball bat and fractured his skull. Mayo Clinic in Rochester would not release details about his condition.

One victim said the fight was gang related and involved a group called the “Northsiders.” The alleged assailants may have retaliated because they say the victims harassed a 14-year-old boy at the Austin Public Library.

Police arrested the suspects in a black Lincoln car shortly after the fight at about 7:30 p.m. The victims — 17, 16 and two 15-year-olds — positively identified the suspects, according to the court complaints.

While the victim who was struck in the head suffered cranial hemorrhaging and a fractured lower skull, he gave details to an officer at the hospital — similar to details other victims mentioned. According to their accounts, the assailants exited the car at the 1200 block of Oakland Avenue East, and Rodriguez grabbed the bat from the trunk. In the court complaint, the victims say Rocha and Moyeda tackled the 17-year-old, and Rodriguez hit him several times with the bat. Another victim reported being hit several times, as well. The victims and a witness say Moyeda had a crowbar.

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